We already took a look at the vertical jump when it came to measuring the explosiveness of an NFL Draft prospect. Now we pivot to the broad jump conducted at the NFL Combine and on-campus pro days to measure explosiveness primarily in the lower body.
With the broad jump, the athlete is in a standing position and must maintain control and balance, something NFL scouts view as an indication of the athlete’s ability to win one-on-one battles. When this drill is executed before the draft, it can increase NFL Draft betting odds that an athlete will be selected higher in the draft. On defense, this event is considered especially important for defensive backs and linebackers.
With the NFL Combine in Indianapolis canceled this spring, the league turned to on-campus pro days to help capture the measurable attributes. NFL scouts run the events and input the results into a central database shared with all teams. Some pro days might only have five or six teams represented, while others attract every team.
Other key pre-draft measurables are the bench press, 40-yard dash, and vertical jump.
We researched the site DraftScout.com for all pro-day data. Who stood out and improved their chances to be high up in the NFL Draft odds and be taken early in the draft? We dug into it below by position.
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The Broad Jump - By Defensive Position
Defensive Backs
Broad Jump -- Measured in how many feet-inches an athlete can jump, measuring explosiveness.
TOP COMBINE PERFORMANCE SINCE 1999 (number of feet-inches):
12-3 -- Byron Jones, CB, UConn (1st round pick in 2015)
11-9 -- Obi Melifonwu, FS, UConn (2nd round pick in 2017)
TOP PRO DAY PERFORMANCES BY POS. - 2021 (number of feet-inches):
11-4 -- Marco Wilson, CB, Florida
11-4 -- Mark Webb, CB, Georgia
11-4 -- Brandin Echols, CB, Kentucky
TOP DB PROSPECTS (by BetMGM odds)
Trevon Moehrig, FS, Texas Christian
ODDS OF FIRST SAFETY PICKED: -400
PRO DAY BROAD (feet-inches): opted out (voluntary - nagging back injury)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJ: 2nd round (No. 41 overall)
Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama
ODDS OF FIRST CB PICKED: -300
PRO DAY BROAD (feet-inches): 10-11 (10th best for CB)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJ: 1st round (No. 6 overall)
Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina
ODDS OF FIRST CB PICKED: +225
PRO DAY BROAD (feet-inches): 11-1 (5th best for CBs)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJ: 1st round (No. 14 overall)
Jevon Holland, FS, Oregon
ODDS OF FIRST SAFETY PICKED: +350
PRO DAY BROAD (feet-inches): 10-6 (4th best for DBs)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJ: 2nd round (No. 43 overall)
Richie Grant, FS, Central Florida
ODDS OF FIRST SAFETY PICKED: +550
PRO DAY BROAD (feet-inches): 10-9 (No. 1 for FS)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJ: 2nd to 3rd round (No. 67 overall)
Linebackers
Broad Jump -- Measured in how many feet-inches an athlete can jump, measuring explosiveness.
TOP COMBINE PERFORMANCE SINCE 1999 (number of feet-inches):
11-7 -- Jamie Collins, OLB, Southern Miss (2nd round in 2013)
11-3 -- Boss Bailey, OLB, Georgia (2nd round in 2003)
TOP PRO DAY PERFORMANCES BY POS. - 2021 (number of feet-inches):
11-0 -- Jamin Davis, ILB, Kentucky
10-11 -- Joseph Ossai, OLB, Texas
10-10 -- Baron Browning, ILB, Ohio State
10-10 -- Jacoby Stevens, OLB, LSU
TOP LB PROSPECTS (by BetMGM odds)
Micah Parsons, OLB, Penn State
ODDS OF FIRST LB PICKED: -450
PRO DAY BROAD (feet-inches): 10-6 (6th best for all LBs)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJ: 1st round (No. 8 overall)
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, OLB, Notre Dame
ODDS OF FIRST LB PICKED: +650
PRO DAY BROAD (feet-inches): 10-4 (8th best for all LBs)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJ: 1st round (No. 17 overall)
Azeez Ojulari, OLB, Georgia
ODDS OF FIRST LB PICKED: +900
PRO DAY BROAD (feet-inches): 10-7 (5th best for all LBs)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJ: 1st round (No. 20 overall)
Jamin Davis, ILB, Kentucky
ODDS OF FIRST LB PICKED: +1100
PRO DAY BROAD (feet-inches): 11-0 (No. 1 for all LBs)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJ: 1st round (No. 27 overall)
Zaven Collins, OLB, Tulsa
ODDS OF FIRST LB PICKED: +2000
PRO DAY BROAD (feet-inches): 10-2 (10th best for all LBs)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJ: 1st round (No. 23 overall)
Joseph Ossai, OLB, Texas
ODDS OF FIRST LB PICKED: +2000
PRO DAY BROAD (feet-inches): 10-11 (No. 2 for all LBs)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJ: 1st to 2nd round (No. 39 overall)
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Brian McLaughlin is a writer for BetMGM and co-host of BMac and Herd’s FCS Podcast. He has covered the national recruiting scene in football and basketball for The Sporting News, headed up the PARADE Magazine High School All-America selections, and handled FCS college football for HERO Sports. Follow BMac on Twitter @BrianMacWriter.
